No deal offered to John Holland over Perth Children’s Hospital: Premier Mark McGowan

The West Australian

Tuesday, 12 February 2019 11:10AM

Perth Children's Hospital controversy continues

The West Australian

VideoThe state government's legal dispute with construction company John Holland over the delayed completion of the Perth Children's Hospital has continued.

A fired up Premier Mark McGowan has escalated the war of words with construction giant John Holland in the dispute over the Perth Children’s Hospital, declaring there has been no deal offered to settle matters.

Speaking on ABC radio, Mr McGowan said the construction giant was seeking a “ridiculous amount of money” and the government would not pay.

“I have made no offer, but there has been discussions on both sides,” he said.

“There have been lots of discussions with John Holland but I am not going to engage in commercial negotiations via the media,” Mr McGowan said.

The $1.2 billion hospital, which opened two years late, was dogged by a string of issues including lead in the pipes and asbestos contamination. John Holland and the State Government have been wrangling over who is liable for the delays and rectification works.

Mr McGowan said he was annoyed John Holland had made the discussions public.

“John Holland has clearly made this public and is obviously seeking a ridiculous amount of money from the taxpayers of Western Australia which we will not pay and we will fight. I have advised them of that.”

He said the government was working to ensure the interests of WA taxpayers were protected and would do “whatever it takes” to get the matter resolved, through the courts if necessary.

“They gave us a hospital with lead in the pipes, with asbestos in the roof, with doors that didn’t fit and then they are expecting the taxpayers of Western Australia to pay,” Mr McGowan said.

“On the other hand the former government did a whole range of contract variations while it was ongoing.

“We are the ones who have been left to clean up the mess. I think the fact that we got the hospital open, fixed the lead in the pipes and we got kids in the hospital within a year or so of coming to office is pretty good.”